Sheet metal die



10, 19324 G. E. IRELAND 1,858,047 SHEET METAL DIE .Fil ed June 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J ZIMWM W D W M y 9 V G. E. IRELAND 1,858,047

. SHEET METAL DIE Filled JuI LO I0. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 H6 45 26 W I q 7 ficgczZd nd Fatented w, 1932 rrs as ram FFECE GEORGE E. IRELAND, F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE CITY AUTO STAMFING GQMPANY, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, CORPORA' N SHEET METAL DIE Application filled June 10,

'My invention has for its object to provide an exceedingly eflicient die for shaping sheet metal parts wherein the metal is stretched to conform to the required configuration, as distinct from bending the parts of the sheet metal die, by the coaction of male and female dies. The invention particularly relates to dies wherein the stretching of portions of the sheet metal is done progressively by movement of the diein a direction inclined to the surface of the sheet metal to produce a gradual distention of themetal in the formation of the article.

The invention particularly relates to a die having a means for securely clamping edge portions of the sheet metal to prevent shpping of the edge portion of the sheet metal as the surface of the die member slides along the surface of the sheet metal. The inventlon also provides a die having parts so interconnected that the die shape may be altered as may be desired within, however, the limitations of the general contour of the articles that may be formed from the die. The invention consists in other features and ad- ;vantages which will appear from the following description and uponexamination of the drawings forming a part hereof.

The invention may be contained in die structures that vary in their details and, to illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected a die for forming an oblong sheet metal part having substantially an L-shaped cross section as illustrative of the various structures that contain the invention, and shall describe the die hereinafter. The die selectedfor purposes of illustration, and as an example of the various embodiments of my invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the die and of the sheet metal holder. Fig. 2 is a top view of the die illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of a section taken on the plane of the line 33 indicated in Fig. 2. The dimensions of the view shown in Fig. 3 is considerable less than the dimensions of the view I shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a top view of the sheet metal holder. Fig. 5 is a view of a sec- 1930. Serial at. 460,259.

trated in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 also illustrates a section of the die shown in Figs. 1 and 2 taken on the same plane as that of the die holder shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view of a sec tion similar to that shown at the right end of the view shown in Fig. 3. The dimensions of the section shown in Fig. 6 being much larger than the dimensions of-Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the article formed by the die which, in this case, is a radiator shelLof the type commonly used for covering edge portions of radiators of automobiles for decorative purposes.

The die selected for purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, consists of two parts, namely, the movable die member and the die holder. The die holderconsists essentially of two parts which cooperate to clamp edge portions of the die. One of the parts of the die holder is substantially dishshaped to receive the sheet metal which is preferably formed of one. or more strips cut so as to form a band having portions which roughly conform to the finished article. The band may be so shaped that its surface in all of its parts will be inclined to the planes of its edges and, consequently, so that it will nest in the sheet metal holder. The edge portions are securely clamped to retain the edge portions in position as the die member operates to progressively stretch portions of the sheet metal.

. In the particular form of construction shown, the sheet metal holder 1 is supported on a suitable bed of a press. The coacting die holder and clamp, for clamping the edge portions of the sheet metal to be formed, is assembled with the movable die member which may be connected to a movable part of the press for raising and lowering the movable die member and the coacting sheet metal holder part to and from the die holder 1, fa-

.cilitating the insertion of the sheet metal into the holder 1, and the removal of the shaped shell from the holder. Thus,the co-. acting clamping member 2 may be raised and lowered by part of a press and the movable die member3, carried by the part 2, may be elastically supported relative to the part 2 by means of the springs 4 and guided in its movement relative to the part 2 by means of the pins 5 whichare connected toa plate 6.

Thus when the part 2 has been located in position, by the die pre'ss, the ram of the press may operate to depress the die member 3 and shape the metal.

Preferably, the die holder '1 comprises 21 plate 8. having a flange part 9 for receiving a plurality of segments 10 located on a ledge 11 formed on the flange part 9. The segments 10 are secured in position by means of suitable bolts 13 and may be replaced by other segments of different shapes and dimensions but with limitations, depending upon the general shape and contour of the article to be formed, particularly as to the dimensions of the shells that may be formed from the die. The segments or sections 10 are, preferably, stepped, as at 15, to form a plurality of relatively spaced gripping corners, as at 16, for

gripping the upper -edge portion of the sheet metal 17 to prevent the sheet metal from slipping downward as the die member 3 is depressed and moved over the surface of the sheet metal 17 The flange plate 8 may be socured to a bed plate 19 by means of the bolts '20. Also, the flange part 9 maybe provided with guiding pins 21 to insure registration of .plate 26. clamping ring 27 is secured to the movable head 23 in diagonally offset substantially parallel spaced relation with'the clamping plate 26 forming therebetween an inverted channel enclosing the forming member 3 and which is bridgedby the supporting head 23. The bed plate 19 is-provided with a clamping ring 28 having inner edge portions 29 that coact with the edge portions of the clamping plate 26 for securing the lower edge portion of the sheetmetal blank, while the i clamping ring 27 is provided with a plurality of segments 30 that are secured to the clamping ring 27 by means of the bolts 31 oooperating with the segments 10 of the stationary die member to grip the upper edge of the sheet metal blank. The parts 30 correspond in shape and in dimensions to the segments 10 that are secured to the sheet metal holder part 1. The segments 30 are also provided with stepped portions 32 that correspond to the stepped portions 15 and soas to form .the

sharp gripping corners in the sheet metal 17 to securely hold the upper edge portion of the sheet metal 17, while the sheet metal is being operated upon by the movable part 3 onthe die.. I 1

The gripping surfaces of the edge portions 29 of the clamping ring 28 and of the edge portions of the clamping plate 26 are located 1. with respect to the stepped portions 15 and 32, so that the sheet metal 17 will lie in contact with the corners of the stepped portions and the'said. surfaces just in advance of the engagement of the coacting clamping member 2. Thus the sheet metal 17 may be readily placed in position so as to rest against the surface of the clamping ring 28 and the corners of the stepped portion of the segments 10, and will not be moved therefrom when the clamping member 2 is moved downward by the operation of the press. Continued movement of the press will shape the edge portion of the sheet metal 17 by the stepped portions 15 and 32 to produce a strong gripping area while at the same time the lower edge portion will be clamped by the opposed clamping areas of the ring 28 and the clamping plate 26.

In order to locate the lower edge of the sheet metal part 17, it may be secured by the heads of the screws 35 which may be located in the bed plate 19. The screws 35 maybe provided with flanges 36 located between the shanks of the screws and the heads 37. The

position of the flanges 36 may be adjusted by varying the position of .the screws 35 in the bed plate 19. The heads are,'preferably, cylindrical in form and are 'so located that they will extend parallel to the clamping surface of the ring 28. The clamping plate 26 is provided with recesses 38 in which the.

heads of the screws will be located when the movable clamping member 2 is lowered by the press to engage the sheet metal 17. The sheet metal 17 may be placed in position by locating its lower edge against the flanges 36 of the screws 35 and between the heads and the ring 28 which will hold the sheet metal 17 in position until the movable clamping member 2 is depressed to engageand clamp.

the edge portions of the plate 17.

The -movable member 3 of the die is supported within the'clamping member 2 and is movable relative to the clamping member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the general direction or plane of the blank gripping surfaces. It is guided for its movement's. not only by the pins 5, but also by the clamping means 27. The clamping member s 2 with the movable member 3 are lowered when the sheet metal strip 17 is placed in position in the die holder 1. When the movable member 3 is placed against the sheet metal 17, it is supported in position by the sheet metal strip 17 as the clamping member 2 is lowered to clamp the sheet metal strip along its edge portions that will be located on the inside and on the outside of the movable member 3 of the die. The press then forces the movable member 3 downward and causing the lower surface of the movable member 3 to slide over the workwith a wipsti' etch the portion of the sheet metal strip 17between the clamped edge portions of the strip. The springs 4, which are located in Ill Ill

or camming action and depress and v sockets 40, formed in the movable member 2, and sockets 41 located in the plate 6, operate to raise the movable member 3 relative to the clamping member 2 when the ram of the press is lifted to release the die member 3 from the sheet metal strip 17 in advance of the releasement of the edge portions of the sheet metal strip 17.

The movable die member 3 is provided with a surface conforming to the configuration that it is'desired to produce in the shell and its surface slides over the surface of the sheet metal to progressively stretch the sheet metal with a wlping or camming action as the movable die member is depressed. If it is desired to bend portions of the sheet metal 17, the clamping ring 28 may be shaped accordingly, that is, it may be provided with the raised portions 44 and 45, such as is indicated by Fig. 3.

In referring to the direction of movement of the forming member which is substantially perpendicular to the general plane of the gripping surfaces such term is employed to broadly designate the general disposition of the surfaces, whether curved, inclined or disformed by the operation of the die, such as,

the shell 46, may be removed from the die holder. The edge portions 47 and 48 may be trimmed from the shell, leaving the finished article formed by the die. If desired, the shell may be further shaped such as to produce further alterations in its configuration.

I claim 1. In a die, a stationary clamping member, a movable die member and a movable clamping member, the clamping members having endless spaced clamping surfaces engaging the inner and outer margins of a flaring endless sheet metal blank for supporting the sheet metal blank in a osition that its surface will be inclined to t e direction of movement of the movable die member, and means for guiding the movable die member intermediate the clamping surfaces of the clamping member and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane thereof.

2. In a die, a stationary clamping member, a movable die member and a movable clamping member, the clamping members having diagonally offset spaced clamping surfaces for supporting the sheet metal operated upon in a position that its surface willbe inclined to the direction of movement of the movable die member, means for guiding the movable die member intermediate the clamping surfaces of the clamping members, the clamping surfaces of the clamping members being disposed for clampingthe metal on the inside and outside of the die member and interconnected with each other in overlying relation therewith.

3. In a die, a stationary clamping member,

a movable die member and a movable clamping member, the clamping members having diagonally ofi'set spaced clamping surfaces for supporting the sheet metal operated upon in a position that the piece to be operated upon will be inclined to the direction of a movable curvilinear die member and a movw able clamping member having therein a curvilinear grooved recess in which the movable member is located, the clamping member having clamping surfaces on opposite sides of the die member for supporting the sheet metal operated upon in a position that it will be inclined to the direction of movement of the movable die member, means for actuating the movable die member independently of the clamping member, the movable die member having projecting parts whose surfaces oper ate to stretch the metal between the portions of the metal clamped by the clamping member.

5.- In a die, a stationary clamping member,

an endless movable die member and a movmember the outer clamping surfaces being adapted for gripping the outer edge portion of the sheet metal more firmly than the inner edge thereof, the movable die member being operated intermediate the clamping surfaces to' stretch the metal'between the porbetween the blank holders and in concentric relation therewith. said forming member be ing movable relative to the blank holders in a direction substantially perpendicular to the general planes thereof into forming-engagement with material held thereby. 7. In a sheet metal forming apparatus, two

' "forming member bein substantially parallel spaced curvilinear blank holding portions disposed in diagonally offset relation, a movable body portion upon which the blank holder portions are jointly carried for unison motion into and out of engaging posi ion, and having therein an inverted cha nel shaped recess intermediate the blank holding portions, a stationary die member having mating portions engaged thereby to hold a sheet metal blank, a contoured forming member carried by the body portion within the inverted channel shaped recess intermediate the blank holding portions for unison movement therewith, said capable of further movement independent y of the blank holders in a like direction. I

8. In a sheet metal forming apparatus, two pairs of endless interconnected curvilinear blank holders adapted for simultaneously engaging the opposite margins of a strip of material in diagonally ofi'set relation and an endless ourvllinear pressure applying forming member engaging the held material intermediate the blank holders and movable relative thereto in a direction substantially perpendicular to. the general plane of said holders, whereby the material so held is shaped with a wiping action of the die thereon.

9. In a sheet metal forming apparatus, a

pair of interconnected curvilinear blank holders of different dimensions relatively oflset in inclined relation, a pair of complementary blank helders for clamping the work therebetween and a non-expanding curvilinear forming member enclosedbetween the blank holders, a bridging member transversely con necting the blank holders. of one pair with each other over the forming member, the

, forming member being operable relative to the blank holders into farming engagement with the work withawi p'ing action thereon.

1Q. In a'sheet metal'for'ming apparatus, a

"' pair of endless blank holders engaging the blank to be formed and offset obliquely from eachother and a complementary pair of blank holders cooperating therewith to hold the work in inclined position, and an endless forming member interposed between the blank holders and movable with wiping action into engagement with a blank extending between the blank holders and while moving in the general direction of the lowermost blank holders.

11. In a-sheet metal formingapparatus,

' two pairs of endless curvilinear concentric lblank holders disposed in diagonally offset relation, for holding a blank in-inclined position and an endless curvilinear forming member disposed in concentric relation with the blank holders and therebetween, said forming member being'movable in a direction sub stantially axially relative to the concentric blank holders into forming engagement with the blank.

12. In a sheet metal forming, apparatus, a

"smaller margins of the flaring walls, a bridgmg member transversely interconnecting the blank holders and a non-expanding formmg member enclosed beneath the bridging memher and movable into and out of the die in a direction substantially perpendicular to the general plane of the margins of its flaring walls, and exerting lateral pressure in different directions upon a curvilinear flaring blank held by the blank holders within the flaring walls of said die member.

14 In a sheet metal forming apparatus, a stationary member having relatively spaced substantially concentric curvilinear material gripping surfaces disposed in diagonally offset relation to each other, the member being recessed'intermediate the gripping surfaces beyond the contour line of the finished product, a coacting movable supporting head, relatively spaced curvilinear blank holding members mounted upon the movable head in substantially concentric diagonally offset spaced relation agreeing with the relative disposi-.

tion of the material gripping surfaces of the stationary member, and separated by an inverted channel and a curvilinear forming member disposed in parallel relation with the blank holding members and within the inverted channel therebetween,'said forming member being movable with the head and capable of further movement independently thereof into forming engagement with material extending between such gripping surfaces with a-wiping action on the material which'is thereby projected into space intermediate the gripping surfaces.

15. In a sheet metal forming apparatus, a die member having relatively spaced concentric curvilinear material grippir portions disposed in inclined relation to each the head, and separated by an inverted channel shaped recess and a relatively movable non-expanding curvilinear forming member located within the inverted channel shaped recess in substantially parallel relation intermediate the material gripping members and movable relative thereto into forming engagement with a sheet metal blank with awiping action thereon intermediate the spaced material gripping portions which is supported thereby. I

16. In a forming apparatus for a radiator shell, a die member having continuous flaring side and end walls, a movable head having gripping engagement with the top and bottom margins of the flaring side and end walls for holding therein a flaring sheet metal blank said head having therein an inverted channel shaped recess between the engaging portions of said head and a movable continuous curvilinear forming member engaging the blank in a direction substantially perpendicular to the general plane of the gripped margins of the blank, and exerting outwardly directed forming pressure simultaneously upon the opposite side and intermediate end Walls of the blank held within the die.

17. In a sheet metal forming apparatus for simultaneously shaping the opposite sides and interconnecting end portion of an open frame like member, a supporting member having flaring side and end portions within which a blank of curvilinear flaring formation may be nested, bearing surfaces at the top and bottom margins of the flaring side and end portions of the support, a movable head, relatively spaced complementary bearing surfaces upon the movable head mating with those of the support to marginally grip the opposite edges of the curvilinear flaring blank, and a relatively movable contoured forming member supported upon the head intermediate said bearing surfaces for movement in unison therewith and capable of further movement independently thereof within the flaring walls of the support and wipingly engaging the gripped flaring'blank in a direction substantially perpendicular to the general plane of the edges of the flaring blank and thereby stretching the blank transversely over the contoured form.

18. In a sheet metal forming apparatus, a die member having endless flaring side and end walls, blank gripping surfaces formed at the top and bottom margins of the side walls, coacting blank holding means having gripping surfaces mating with those of the die for gripping the opposite margins of an endless flaring blank roughly conforming to the shape of the die, and a non-expanding forming member movable in a direction sub stantially perpendicular to the general plane of the margin of the flaring blank into operative engagement therewith, said forming member being shaped to afl'ord camming pressure intermediate the gripped margins of the blank for stretching the blank $111111].-

taneously in different directions by its movement in a single direction. p 19. In a sheet metal forming apparatus for producing an open frame like sheet metal' body having transversely contoured side walls and interconnecting end portions, a die member having endless flaring side and end portions merging one into the other, gripping surfaces disposed in spaced relation upon the flaring walls of the die, the die walls being recessed intermediate said gripping surfaces to afford clearance spaceextending beyond the ultimate line of the finished product, a blank holder, endless gripping surfaces thereon mating with those of the die member,-and an endless contoured forming member intermediate the gripping surfaces and movable relative to the die member to operatively engage a flaring.

curvilinear blank nested therein in a direction angularly disposed to the general plane of the die member for simultaneously forming the opposite sides and the interconnecting ends of the flaring curvilinear blankby, projecting the same into the clearance space intermediate the gripped margins.

20. In a sheet metal forming apparatus, a die having flaring side and end walls, grippin surfaces disposed upon the flaring side wal s in spaced relation with. each other, coacting blank holder means having relatively spaced gripping surfaccs mating with said first mentioned gripping surfaces, and a relatively movable non-expanding forming member yieldingly supported upon the blank holder intermediate the gripping surfaces thereof for engaging a-flaring curvilinear comprising in combination a pair-of sheet metal clamping members disposed in fixed relation with respect to each other andin different planes, a clamping mechanism including a pair of clamping members co-operating with said first clamping members, a

bridge for interconnecting said second clamping members, said bridge and second clamping members forming a channel one side of which is of greater depth than the other, and

a forming mechanism including a forming,

die interposed in said channel, one of said" mechanism being movably mounted so that said mechanisms have a relative .movement during the operation of said machine.

22. In an apparatus for forming sheet metal from a blank, two pairs of endless work holders for engaging the blank to be formed, eachpair of said work holders in-. cluding a fixed member and a movable member, one of said pairs being oifset out of the plane of the other pair, a bridging member interconnecting said movable members, a.

movably mounted endless forming member, said forming member being disposed intermediate, said movable work holders and operating independently of said movable work holders during the forming of the sheet metal.

23. In an apparatus for forming sheet metal from. a blank, two pairs of blank holders one of said airs being ofi'set out of the plane of the ot er pair, each pair of said blank holders including a fixed clamping member and a movable clamping member, a bridge connecting the movable clamping members, said bridge and said movable clamping members forming a channel, one side of which extends beyond the other side, a forming member, movably mounted in said channel, said forming member moving independently of said movable clamping memers during the forming operation. 7

24. In an apparatus for forming sheet metal from a blank, 8. pair of fixed clamping members, a pair of movable clamping members co-operating with the fixed clamping members for holding the blank, the coacting members of the respective pairs of clamping members being ofiset out of the plane of the other such members'a bridge interconnecting one pair of clamping members, said bridge and said interconnected clampmg members forming a channel, a movable forming member interposed in said channel, said forming member and said interconnected clamping members having a relative movement during the forming operation.

In witness whereof I my name to this specification.

GEORGE E. IRELAND.

have hereunto signed 

